WORCESTER, Mass. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse opened the 2019 season with a 13-9 win at Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon in Worcester, Mass. The Stags' attack was paced by Taylor Mitchell, who set a pair of career highs with five goals and six total points.
 
Fairfield starts the campaign a 1-0 for the third time in four seasons under Head Coach Laura Field. Holy Cross will begin its 2019 season at 0-1.
 
After netting 40 goals as a junior, Mitchell continued her torrid pace today with an effort that included a "natural hat trick" with three straight goals in the first period during the run that staked Fairfield to the lead.
 
Jillian Winwood added four goals for the Stags to tie her personal best, also tallying a "natural hat trick" with three in a row early in the second half. Meaghan Graham also racked up four points by distributing a career- high four assists. Diana DeVita and Kelly Horning had identical statlines with two goals and one assist apiece. Rounding out the Fairfield attack was Kelly Gordon with an assist to register her first career point.
 
In the midfield, Erin Mammele hauled in four draw controls to guide the Stags to a 13-11 edge on the restart. Winwood pulled down three draws with DeVita and Keyla Bay each corralling two. DeVita also scooped up four ground balls in the transition game.
 
Defensively, Olivia Conquest made her debut in the cage and turned away 10 shots to record the win. The unit in front of Conquest was led by First Team All-MAAC defender Megan Beach, who had four ground balls and a caused turnover. Caroline Mangan also picked up four ground balls and helped turn defense into offense with five caused turnovers. Mammele, Bey and Reynolds were also part of Fairfield's starting defense that limited the Crusaders to nine goals and pressured them into 24 turnovers.
 
Holy Cross was led by four goals from First Team All-Patriot League attacker Keely Connors. Sophie Ochs made 14 saves in the cage.
 
The Stags kick off the 2019 home slate on Wednesday, Feb. 13 with a 3 p.m. visit from UConn. The Huskies began their first season as a member of the new American Athletic Conference on Friday with an 18-6 loss at #15 Syracuse.
 
Admission is free for all fans for all Fairfield Women's Lacrosse regular season home games this season.
 
Notes
Rookies Keyla Bay, Olivia Conquest, Caroline Mangan, Nicollette LaVista and Cameryn Dera all made their Fairfield debuts today.
 
Fairfield is 3-1 in season openers during the tenure of Head Coach Laura Field.